Who we are

Saint Andrews Grand Commandery, Knights Templar, is constituted to maintain and preserve the ancient chivalric traditions, customs, and usages of the Order of the Temple; to perpetuate its Christian and knightly principles; to safeguard the integrity and purity of the York Rite; to establish and uphold standards of ritualistic uniformity, discipline, and unanimity among its constituent Commanderies; to strengthen the bonds of Templar Fraternity; to advance our common identity and sacred obligations; and to assist subordinate Commanderies in the resolution of both common and unique challenges to our Orders, duties, and practices.

Therefore, we do solemnly construct and bind ourselves to these standards of governance, by which wisdom, justice, and equity shall guide our regulated authority, to the honor of our chivalric purpose, the blessings of Divine Providence, and the glory of Almighty God.

In 1976, during the Bicentennial Year of the United States, and again in 1994, Saint Andrews Grand Commandery had the honor of hosting the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar, the national body of affiliated jurisdictions. At present, the Grand Encampment consists of thirty-two Prince Hall Affiliated Grand Jurisdictions within the United States and the Bahamas. 

From the original five Commanderies that formed Saint Andrews Grand Commandery, the organization has grown to include seven Commanderies in the State of Maryland and two in Germany. This growth brings the total to nine Commanderies, comprising approximately 178 Sir Knights, with continued opportunity for expansion as Masons seek to broaden their knowledge and experience the extended benefits of York Rite Masonry.

The primary purpose of Saint Andrews Grand Commandery is to protect and assist all who are in need—Masonic or civilian—by wielding the sword in defense of widows, orphans, and those in distress, and by seeking truth for the improvement of mankind. We stand ready to defend the Christian faith and to protect the Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Maryland 

Knights Templar represents the culminating Order of the York Rite, following advancement through the Symbolic (Blue Lodge) and Capitular and Cryptic degrees of Freemasonry. Within the Commandery, a Sir Knight enters upon a solemn path of Christian knighthood, where the moral and spiritual lessons of Freemasonry are fully expressed through chivalric discipline, duty, and service.

Here, within the Commandery, a candidate is instructed in the obligations of a Christian soldier, the principles of faith, charity, and sacrifice, and the historic traditions of the ancient Orders of the Temple. The Orders conferred—Illustrious Order of the Red Cross, Order of Malta, and Order of the Temple—provide the Sir Knight the opportunity for the highest advancement within the York Rite, emphasizing service to God, defense of truth, and fidelity to sacred vows.

Through participation in the Knights Templar, Sir Knights gain fellowship, leadership development, ceremonial excellence, and a lifelong commitment to Christian service, strengthening both the Fraternity and the communities we are sworn to serve.